Chapter 23 23: Caught In The Act - Part 1

It had been a rough night for Howl. with everything that had happened and the burden she had to carry along with her, it had her with no energy in the end.

The demoness did not know why she had panicked or made the decisions she made, but she did not regret making them.

The journey to prevent the demonic war should have been her priority but she had chosen her host’s family over the journey. It had been a spur-of-the-moment decision but Howl was sure she would make it again in a heartbeat.

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Her eyes opened up before the sun was up and Howl felt unable to settle. There was a presence on the edge of her mind that unsettled her.

Howl decided to check up on her family and found them sleeping in the lobby area where she had left them a night before. They were laid out in the well-ventilated area to clear their lungs out.

Howl spend some time just looking at them before checking in on her guests.

The agreed time for leaving had not yet arrived and Howl felt the need to get the last conversation in before they left.

She wanted a way to contact them as well in case of an emergency.

However, once she reached the room she found it to be empty. The beds were cold and properly made. The bathroom was dry as well and unused.

It all painted a picture Howl was sure she did not like. Had this room been used at all that night? Or had the other two decided to leave at night?

Why did they not tell her?

Howl felt betrayed by the other two but she had no way to ask them this question. There was also the chance that they left because of the presence of royal guards so close to them.

Howl had seen some in the village yesterday but she knew better than to engage them. She had already attracted far too much attention to herself with the stunt she pulled with the fire.

The magical fire had been tough to handle and impossible to put out. Howl had not even tried to get under control before she had leaped into the fire.

Her magic had formed a protective barrier around her and allowed her a safe passageway right into the heart of fire.

It had been a gamble but it had paid off. The magical pressure of the fire was just a little bit less than what Howl could handle with the other two in her arms and she had reached the exit with shaking legs.

Someone had put the fire out sometime after that but Howl had been too busy to have her family looked at to see who it had been.

The feeling of uneasiness had started then and had followed Howl back into her home.

The knocking at the door caused Howl to break her position and jump in the air. No one should have come here to disturb her early and there were no neighbors to worry about as well.

Unless it was the Oracle and Nao who had come back for something.

The knocking got worse and then the banging on the door started. The noise was loud and woke up her mother.

“Who?” her mother asked with sleep in her voice and Howl finally stood up.

“I’ll go and check. You stay here and rest for a little longer” Howl did not want to leave her two family members alone in the lobby but the knocking was getting frantic now.

The door would not survive at this rate.

“I’m coming. Sheesh, give it a little rest and allow me -” Howl opened the front door and instantly wished she had not. She tried to close the door but the body at the other end did not give her this privilege.

“Don’t be like that. I just want to talk with you. If you resist then I will have to take you and your family in for insubordination” Howl had only ever heard Princess Neah’s voice on TV or in a ceremonial gathering.

She had not realized that it could sound so threatening. Nor did she think that the presence of the princess would be enough to make her fall to her knees in front of her.

“I’m afraid now is not a good time princess My mother and younger brother are not feeling well” Howl tried to stall for time. Her mind was taking a lot longer than usual to catch up with her.

The situation was dangerous and Howl had to make sure she navigated it right.

“Ah, I know. They were in the fire last night, right? That’s why I brought a healer with me to tend to them. Won’t you allow us in now?” the princess asked as she motioned for the healer to step forward.

Nao eyes the healer but she seemed legit. She had no other choice but to step back and allow them all entry.

At least, this did solve the mystery of ‘who had put the fire out yesterday’.

“Who is it?” Howl heard her mother’s voice and quickly covered the distance to her. She gently lowered her back to the floor and watched the princess and her healer with a critical voice.

“It’s princess Neah. She saw you in the fire yesterday and decided to offer her assistance for you and Shou” Howl replied with a calm and cheery voice.

She did not believe in the princess’s good intentions but there was no need for her to worry her mother.

“I see. What a good princess we have for our nation. I wished I could have seen her face as well” her mother replied as the healer took a seat at her other side.

Princess Neah just neared her mother and Howl watched her with a glare the whole time. She did not want to miss any kind of foul play.

“I’m glad to meet you as well. Meeting our honorable citizens is always a fun experience for me. I also have a request for your daughter. I saw her performance and bravery yesterday and wanted to recruit her for my task force. May I have this talk with her?” Howl’s bad feeling from before came back with a vengeance.

She did not want to be alone in a room with the princess but there was no way to refuse her without looking suspicious.

“I would rather not leave my family here alone” Howl protested but got an amused chuckle in response.

“We will provide for your mother and brother as well. I cannot allow such a good ‘piece’ to slip away from my hand” the princess replied and Howl felt goosebumps raise on her arms.

“I would rather-”, “Hear the girl out Howl. You can use the back room for your talk” her mother interrupted and there was no backing out.

Howl led the princess to the back room and closed the door after her. She waited for the princess to begin speaking. It did not take long for the question to come.

“So, where’s she? Where are you hiding the Oracle?”